Local property developers, Hill Residential, are working up plans for a major new housing development on under-used land at the Scotsdales Garden Centre site, in Market Street.

A formal planning application is expected before the end of this year and, on October 13, more than 300 residents and local dignitaries attended a public exhibition held at the garden centre to find out more about the proposals.

Scotsdales, which is a family owned independent garden centre business with three sites in Cambridgeshire, insists it is committed to a “continued presence” in Fordham.

A statement on fordhamhill.co.uk – the development’s own website – says: “The Fordham site was purchased from the Economic Forestry Group in 1991. A commercial nursery growing plants for the amenity market has been run on the site since 1991.

“In recent years the turnover and profitability associated with the commercial nursery has reduced resulting in large areas of the site becoming vacant.

“Scotsdales remain committed to a continued presence in Fordham and to an ongoing process of investment to improve the facilities at the garden centre.”

Hill say the proposed development will make better use of “under-used land” at the garden centre – and help meet the current housing shortfall in East Cambs.

The news comes just a week after the News reported that up to 500 new homes look set to be built in the nearby village of Kennett.

East Cambs District Council is hoping to build the new homes, as well as a primary school, community facilities and start-up business facilities, on land south-west of 98-138, Station Road.

Palace Green Homes – the trading name for the council’s Local Authority Trading Company – has submitted a scoping opinion report to the authority’s planning department regarding the proposals.

Talking about the Fordham proposals, James Thomas, land and strategic projects manager for Hill, said: “We are working with Scotsdales to bring forward a high quality and sensitive development on the site, to help meet local housing needs.

“We were extremely pleased with the number of attendees and level of engagement from residents at the exhibition.

“We are committed to working with local residents and all local stakeholders to ensure that any development of the Scotsdales site responds to local need.

“We have begun the process of examining all of the feedback and are reviewing the proposals.”